Actuator cap



April 4, 1957 J. J. ANDERSON ETAL 3,312,723

ACTUATOR CAP Filed Aug. 7, 1964 -l T 1 v T E 26 2| 7 x IO 24 1o 12 \4 15 2 \Z\ 1 I 29 Hm I "I 9h 26 .i .41; w T :1 .\'L H 22 Zl l7 United States Patent Office 3,312,723 ACTUATGR CAP John Jay Anderson, Kenosha, and William C. Harris, Racine, Wis, assignors to S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc., Racine, Wis.

Filed Aug. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 388,228 11 Claims. (Cl. ZZZ-402.13)

This invention relates to a combined valve actuator and dispensing unit, and more particularly, to such apparatus adapted especially for use with aerosol valves of the type having axially shiftable discharge ports.

Aerosol containers are usually equipped with valves having spring biased discharge ports which are moved either in a pivoting or bending manner by application of a lateral force, or in a reciprocating path by application of an axial force, in order to open the valve and permit discharge of the aerosol composition from the container. Upon release of the actuating force, the spring returns the valve and discharge port to closed position.

The prior art demonstrates that a number of expedients have been proposed to actuate such valves and control the discharge therethrough, but these have not been altogether satisfactory. Thus, for instance, those units that have been used in connection with aerosol valve discharge ports of the reciprocating type have frequently been so arranged that lateral forces are exerted on the discharge port to such an extent-that the valve parts become bound before the valve opens. This is usually due to the fact that since it is often desired that discharge be effected axially of the discharge port, the manual force applied to the actuator is not applied axially of the port, but at a point parallel and ofifset thereof so that a pivoting or bending force component is applied to the port, increasing friction between relatively moving parts, and frequently binding them.

Thus, the present invention contemplates the provision of a combined aerosol valve actuator and dispensing unit unit that overcomes the foregoing difiiculties and disadvantages noted in connection with reciprocable discharge ports Where axial discharge is desired. According to the invention, I contribute such a combined actuator and dispensing unit wherein lateral forces or force components acting on the reciprocable discharge port are reduced to the point where binding is eliminated.

As a feature of my invention, I provide an actuator and dispensing unit comprising a hub adapted to cooperate with the valve discharge port to move it axially towards the open position under depression of the hub, flexible support means extending radially of the hub and means joining the support means and adapted to connect the unit to an aerosol container, passageway means in the hub and a discharge orifice at the outer end of the passageway means whereby the composition to be discharbed flows through the hub and is discharged through the orifice when the valve is open, fingerpiece means extending radially of the hub to facilitate manual depression of the hub, and reinforcing means extending radially of the hub to resist lateral force components tending to pivot or bend the hub. According to my concept, it is important that the reinforcing means extend in a radial direction opposite the fingerpiece means.

Actually, the flexible support means extending radially of the hub may be a diaphragm and the means joining the support means and adapted to connect the unit to the container may be a cylindrical wall; but the support means can also take other forms such as a series of radiating spokes, for example, terminating in a circular snap ring in lieu of the cylindrical wall for engagement with the container.

As a further feature of my invention, my reinforcing means may take the form of a radial rib extending outwardly of the hub, and depending from the diaphragm or spoke means and serves to rigidify same. In fact, I may use a second reinforcing means depending from the fingerpiece itself and diametrically opposite the first mentioned rib; or the undersurface of the fingerpiece, which is wedge-shaped in plan, may be recessed to provide ribs along its sides, the resultant effect of which would be similar to that of a single bisecting rib. In any case, the rib means rigidifies the unit and especially the hub and, while permitting some pivoting components of any offset force exerted parallel to the hub axis, greatly reduce the tendency of the hub to cock or turn about a transverse axis or to bend when such a force is applied.

Another feature of my invention contemplates the provision of the rib means outwardly of the unit, in the direction of flow. In this case, the rib means may take the form of a second fingerpiece extending radially of the hub and diametrically opposite the first fingerpiece. It will be appreciated that with this construction, either fingerpiece can be depressed, or a balanced force can be applied by depressing both fingerpieces simultaneously, as with the.

first and middle fingers, in a syringe technique.

As has been stated, the fingerpiece, or fingerpieces as the case may be, extend radially of the hub. I prefer to form these fingerpieces with the portion immediately adjacent the hub extending upwardly beyond the uppermost part of the hub. This construction serves to protect the finger or fingers from the contents of the container during discharge, and prevents the finger or fingernail from overlying the discharge orifice.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better un derstood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that willv be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of the invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

A specific embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an actuator and dispensing unit of the present invention in its environment relativeto an aerosol container;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the unit being actuated;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the unit FIGS. 1 to 4: and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5 thereof, there is shown a combined'valve actuator and dispensing unit 10 mounted atop an aerosol dispensing container 11. The unit or cap 10 is preferably formed of plastic such as polyethylene, for example, and has a central hub 12, axially bored and counterbored as at 14 and 15, respectively, and provided with an axial discharge orifice 16 communicating with the bore 14 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

An annular wall 17 is internally recessed as at 19 for along the lines illustrated Patented Apr. 4, 1967 a) snap fitting engagement with a bead 20 provided on the container 11 for the purpose. The hub 12 and wall 17 are connected by support means shown in the form of a resilient, radial diaphragm or web 21 integral with both the hub and wall 17 and formed with a series of annular corrugations 22 to render the web yieldable under light manual pressure.

The hub 12 has an. integral formation 24 that is wedgeshaped in plan (FIG. and which extends radially thereof. This formation actually constitutes a fingerpiece and may be grooved or knurled on its outer or finger engaging surface 25. The finger-piece preferably extends upwardly as at 26 beyond the top of the hub 12 for a purpose to be described, and while integral with the hub, may be separated from the web 21 as indicated at 27 (FIG. 5).

There is formed on the underside of the web 21 an integral depending rib 29 extending radially from the hub 12 to a point adjacent the wall 17 on the side of the hub opposite the fingerpiece 24. Preferably a similar rib 29a depends from the fingerpiece itself in the plane of the rib 29, or the underside of the fingerpiece may be formed to provide ribs along its side edges, the resultant rigidifying effect of which would be similar to that of the single bisecting rib 29a.

As has already been stated, the unit of the present invention contributes to proper actuation of discharge ports of the reciprocating type. In this connection, it will be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3 that the discharge port 30 of the container valve (not shown) fits snugly into the counterbore 15. When the fingerpiece is depressed, as in FIG. 3, to move the discharge port 30 to discharge position, the rib 29, and rib 29a if one is provided, serve to rigidity the web 12 and to act more or less as hinge means to greatly reduce the eiiect of'components of the depressing force tending to cook or bend the discharge port 39. Rather, the port moves substantially axially to valve opening position without binding and with the application of relatively little force.

Upon movement of the port 30 to valve opening position, the aerosol composition passes through the port, the bore 14 and the orifice 16 to the atmosphere. The upward extension 26 of the fingerpiece 24 prevents the finger or fingernail from overlying and blocking the orifice 16.

In FIG. 6, another embodiment of the invention is illustrated according to which the rib takes the form of a second fingerpiece 24a identical with but positioned diametrically opposite fingerpiece 24. This construction not only affords the desired rigidity, but permits the application of a syringe technique in exertion of the actuating force. Thus, the first and second fingers may actuate the unit while the container is supported by the thumb and remaining fingers. From the foregoing description it will be seen that I contribute a novel valve actuator and dispensing unit for the actuation of aerosol valves of the type having axially shiftable discharge ports which units eliminate the possibility of binding of parts of the aerosol device and thus assures reliable operation of the valve and free flow of the aerosol composition.

I believe that the construction and operation of my invention Will now be understood, and that the advantages thereof will be fully appreciated by those persons skilled in the art.

We now claim:

1. A combined aerosol valve actuator and dispensing unit comprising, a hub adapted to cooperate with the discharge port of the aerosol valve to move same axially towards the open position upon depression of said hub, yieldable support means integral with and extending radially of the major portion of the outer wall of said hub and means joining said support means and adapted to connect said unit to a container member, passageway means formed in said hub and a discharge orifice at the outer end of said passageway means whereby the aerosol composition to be discharged passes through said ,hub and is discharged through said orifice when the aerosol valve is open, fingerpiece means integral with and extending radially of a minor portion of the outer wall of said hub to facilitate manual depression of said hub, said support means and fingerpiece having adjacent radial disconnecting boundaries, and reinforcing means extending radially of said hub and on the side thereof opposite said fingerpiece with respect to said hub.

2. A combined aerosol valve actuator and dispensing unit comprising, a hub constructed for telescopic engagement with the discharge port of the aerosol valve to move same axially towards the open position upon depression of said hub, yieldable support means integral with and extending radially of the major portion of the outer wall of said hub and means joining said support means and adapted to connect said unit to a container member, a discharge orifice at the outer end of said hub directed in a substantially axial direction with respect to the aerosol valve whereby the aerosol composition to be discharged is discharged through said orifice when the aerosol valve is open, fingerpiece means integral with and extending radially of a minor portion of the outer Wall of said hub to facilitate manual depression of said hub, said support means and fingerpiece having adjacent radial disconnecting boundaries, and a reinforcing means extending radially of said hub and projecting from the underside of said support means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said fingerpiece means extends upwardly adjacent said hub to a point beyond the top of said hub.

4. A combined aerosol valve actuator and dispensing unit comprising, a hub constructed for telescopic engagement with the discharge port of the aerosol valve to move same axially towards the open position upon depression of said hub, resilient support means integral with and ex tending radially of the major portion of the outer wall of said hub and means integrally joining said support means and adapted to connect said unit to a container member, a discharge orifice at the outer end of said hub directed in a substantially axial direction with respect to the aerosol v-alve whereby the aerosol composition to be discharged is discharged through said orifice when the aerosol valve is open, fingerpiece means integral with and extending radially of a minor portion of the outer wall of said hub to facilitate manual depression of said hub, said support means and fingerpiece having adjacent radial disconnect boundaries and a reinforcing means extending radially of said hub and projecting from the underside of said support means and said fingerpiece means.

5. A combined aerosol valve actuator and dispensing unit comprising, a hub constructed for telescopic engagement with the discharge port of the aerosol valve to move same axially towards open position upon depression of said hub, a flexible diaphragm integral with and extending outwardly of the major portion of the outer wall of said hub, means merging with the outer region of said dia-' phragm and adapted to connect the unit to a container member, passageway means formed in said hub for communicating with the discharge port and a discharge orifice at the outer end of said passageway means whereby aerosol composition to be discharged passes through said orifice when the aerosol valve is open, fingerpiece means integral with and extending radially of a minor portion of the outer wall of said hub to facilitate manual depression of said hub, said support means and fingerpiece having adjacent radial disconnecting boundaries, and a rib projecting downwardly of said diaphragm and extending radially of said hub and on the side thereof opposite said fingerpiece means with respect to said hub.

6. A combined aerosol valve actuator and dispensing unit comprising. a hub constructed for telescopic engagement with the discharge port of the aerosol valve to move same axially towards the open position upon depression of said hub, flexible support means integral with and extending radially of the major portion of the outer Wall of said hub and means joining said support means and adapted to connect said unit to a container member, a discharge orifice at the outer end of said hub directed in a substantially axial direction with respect to the aerosol valve whereby the aerosol composition to be discharged is discharged through said orifice when the aerosol valve is open, means defining a pair of diametrically opposed recesses in said support means, first fingerpiece means extending radially of said hub and disposed in one of said recesses, and second fingerpiece means extending radially of said hub diametrically opposite said first fingerpiece means and disposed in the other of said recesses to facilitate manual depression of said hub.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said fingerpiece means extend upwardly adjacent said hub to a point beyond the top of said hub.

8. A combined aerosol valve actuator and dispensing unit comprising, a hub constructed for telescopic engagement with the discharge port of the aerosol valve to move same axially towards open position upon depression of said hub, a flexible diaphragm integral with and extending radially outwardly of the major portion of the outer wall of said hub, means merging with the outer region of said diaphragm and adapted to connect the unit to a container member, a discharge orifice at the outer end of said hub whereby the aerosol composition to be discharged passes through said orifice when the aerosol valve is open, means defining a recess in said diaphragm, a fingerpiece integral with and extending radially of a minor portion of the outer wall of said hub and disposed in said recess to facilitate manual depression of said hub, and reinforcing rib means extending radially of said hub and opposite said fingerpiece.

9. A combined aerosol valve actuator and dispensing unit comprising, a hub constructed for telescopic engagement with the discharge port of the aerosol valve to move same axially towards open position upon depression of said hub, a flexible diaphragm extending outwardly of said hub, means merging with the outer region of said diaphragm and adapted to connect the unit to a container member, a discharge orifice at the outer end of said hub whereby the aerosol composition to be discharged passes through said orifice when the aerosol valve is open, means defining a pair of diametrically opposed recesses in said diaphragm, and fingerpieces extending radially of said hub and disposed in said recesses to facilitate manual depression of said hub,

10. A diaphragm-type actuator for an aerosol valve comprising an inverted cup-like body member having an annular side wall and a top wall, said top wall comprising a flexible diaphragm, said diaphragm having a central portion through which a discharge passageway extends, the lower end of said passageway being shaped to fit over the discharge orifice means of said aerosol valve and the upper end comprising the discharge orifice of said actuator, an offset fingerpiece integral at one end to said central portion, and a rib extending in the same direction as said fingerpiece from one side to the other of said diaphragm and terminating short of said side wall at both ends of said rib, said rib being integral with said diaphragm and said fingerpiece whereby force applied upon said fingerpiece will be evenly distributed over said diaphragm to lessen the force required to actuate said valve.

11. A diaphragm-type actuator for an aerosol valve comprising an inverted cup-like body member, having an annular side wall and a top wall, said top wall comprising a flexible diaphragm, said diaphragm having a central portion through which a discharge passageway extends, the lower end of said passageway being shaped to fit over the discharge orifice means of said aerosol valve 'and the upper end comprising the discharge orifice of said actuator, an offset fingerpiece integral at one end of said central portion and being separated from said diaphragm by a slit which extends around the fingerpiece, and a rib extending in the same direction as said fingerpiece from one side to the other of said diaphragm and terminating short of said side wall at both ends of said rib, said rib being integral with said diaphragm and said fingerpiece whereby force applied upon said fingerpiece will be evenly distributed over said diaphragm to lessen the force required to actuate said valve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,036,244 8/1912 Hooper 251-289 X 1,628,819 5/1927 Brown et a1 251289 X 2,697,635 12/1954 Ivins et a1 239-337 2,921,722 1/1960 FOcht 222394 3,101,876 8/1963 Ayres 222509 X 3,137,414 6/1964 Steinkamp 222394 3,169,672 2/ 1965 Sofier et a1. 222394 3,185,350 5/1965 Abplanalp et a1. 222394 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

10. A DIAPHRAGM-TYPE ACTUATOR FOR AN AEROSOL VALUE COMPRISING AN INVERTD CUP-LIKE BODY MEMBER HAVING AN ANNULAR SIDE WALL AND A TOP WALL, SAID TOP WALL COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM, SAID DIAPHRAGM HAVING A CENTRAL PORTION THROUGH WHICH A DISCHARGE PASSAGEWAY EXTENDS, THE LOWER END OF SAID PASSAGEWAY BEING SHAPED TO FIT OVER THE DISCHARGE ORIFICE MEANS OF SAID AEROSOL VALVE AND THE UPPER END COMPRISING THE DISCHARGE ORIFICE OF SAID ACTUATOR, AN OFFSET FINGERPIECE INTEGRAL AT ONE END TO SAID CENTRAL PORTION, AND A RIB EXTENDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS SAID FINGERPIECE FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER OF SAID DIAPHRAGM AND TERMINATING SHORT OF SAID SIDE WALL AT BOTH ENDS OF SAID RIB, SAID RIB BEING INTEGRAL WITH SAID DIAPHRAGM AND SAID FINGERPIECE WHEREBY FORCE APPLIED UPON SAID FINGERPIECE WILL BE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED OVER SAID DAIPHRAGM TO LESSEN THE FORCE REQUIRED TO ACTUATE SAID VALVE. 